NEW YORK | On the occasion of her 106th birthday, American philanthropist Kathryn W. Davis has become the 6th member of the Seeds of Peace Advisory Board, joining Her Majesty Queen Noor, Presidents Bill Clinton, George HW Bush and Shimon Peres, and Dr. Sa’eb Erekat.

“We are honored to have Mrs. Davis join our Advisory Board,” says Seeds of Peace Executive Director Leslie Lewin. “She has not only been a dedicated and thoughtful supporter, but serves as an inspiration to our entire family of peacemakers. Her sincerity and passion continue to impact our Seeds around the globe.”

Mrs. Davis has met with Seeds in person on many occasions at her homes in New York and New England, most recently in the summer of 2011 when members of the Seas of Peace sailing crew joined her for lunch in Maine.

“Seeds of Peace engages motivated youth from places at conflict with one another in ways no other organization does — by building personal relationships that can transcend the limitations of their own backgrounds and then keeps them focused on their common agenda of advancing the cause of peace,” says Mrs. Davis.

“I invest in Seeds of Peace in the belief that helping young people develop the skills, attitudes and commitments for the advancement of the cause of peace is essential. Seeds is indeed helping us “prepare for peace” not war.”

Mrs. Davis is a noted author and has worked with the Council on Foreign Relations. She received her doctorate in Geneva, where she wrote a study on the League of Nations. Her interest in international engagement dates back to 1929 and her first of more than 30 trips to Russia. The International Center at Princeton University is named after her, as is Wellesley’s Davis Museum and Cultural Center.

She is the recipient of several awards, including the 2006 Woodrow Wilson Award of Public Service. To celebrate her 100th birthday, she launched Davis Projects for Peace, which funds 100 initiatives around the world to advance peace.

Comments

I am so impressed by the wonderful work of this most beautiful woman, Kathryn W. Davis. I totally believe in Seeds of Peace and that what is being done, is one of the best possible ways to effect peace, in educating through contact, especially with young people. We’re really all the same, and we need to respect and love each other, for the diversity of culture and ways of being, and to recognize the worth and value of everyone, together, and what we can accomplsih, as ONE. It’s about WOW.

Lots of bravos to Mrs. Davis and unbounded admiration for all that she has done. I am a Wellesley graduate as well as a great admirer of the Seeds Foundation. Having lived many years in the Middle East I know how important a role it plays.